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North Carolina officials on Monday approved a state grant of up to $2.2 million over nine years to coax Continental Teves Inc. to expand operations in the Henderson County city of Fletcher.

The plant makes brake systems and components and employs about 290. The state grant is conditional on the company adding more than 300 additional jobs. A second plant in Morganton employs about 370 workers.

The German parent company said its pretax profit slid 91 percent during the second quarter as sales slowed on weaker demand from auto companies.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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A subsidiary of German tire and car parts maker Continental AG plans to expand operations at a North Carolina brake systems factory despite slack parts demand from auto makers.

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For days, Wilmington Police searched for Leroy Bernard Sampson Jr. He was wanted for allegedly shooting and killing 17-year-old Tyshawn Gause. As of Saturday night, they did not have look any further. Sampson turned himself in to authorities.

Tyshawn’s mother, Lakeitha Smith, buried her son the same day Sampson stopped running from the law. “By him turning himself in, he didn’t do that on his own. God made him do that, which is for his best interest,” she said.

The fatal shooting marked the first murder in the city of Wilmington this year. Smith said she has been sitting by the phone hoping to hear an arrest had been made ever since she lost her son. “We are very relieved and I feel like I can get some sleep now.”

Sampson is still awaiting trial, but Smith said she wants justice to come to the person who killed her teenaged son. “I say throw away the key. Really, I say give me the key and let me hold on to it, because you won’t get it back.”

Sampson is in the New Hanover County Jail without bond. He is charged with first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon and weapon possession by a felon.

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A suspect wanted for Wilmington’s first murder of the year will make his first court appearance Monday morning. The family of victim Tyshawn Gause said they can rest knowing the 17-year-old’s possible killer is in custody.

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Associated poll

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RALEIGH — Legislation being considered in North Carolina would give grocery shoppers a chance to sample beer and ale in addition to wine tastings already allowed in the store aisles.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reports that the proposal is another sign that traditionally restrictive alcohol laws are loosening in North Carolina.

Legislators four years ago allowed the alcohol content of beer to climb from 6 percent to 15 percent. More counties are approving sales of liquor by the drink. Wine sampling has been allowed since 2001.

The Senate has approved the bill and the House may vote on it this week. Tastings could start in the fall.

Owners of small breweries around the state say the law will enhance North Carolina’s growing beer culture.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Legislation being considered in North Carolina would give grocery shoppers a chance to sample beer and ale in addition to wine tastings already allowed in the store aisles.

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Associated poll

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ASHEVILLE — A tour helicopter aiding in the search for an airplane missing on a flight from Georgia has discovered wreckage on a North Carolina mountainside.

The North Carolina Wing of the Civil Air Patrol said Sunday that friends of the missing pilot, identified as Bill Allison, spotted the wreckage on a peak in Clay County near the Georgia border. They confirmed that the wreckage was that of the missing plane.

CAP spokesman Don Penven said Clay County emergency management personnel were contacted and a ground team was dispatched to the remote crash site, which took several hours to reach.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the Cessna left Cleveland, Ga., for the Andrews-Murphy Airport in western North Carolina about 10 a.m. Friday. Allison’s wife reported him missing.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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A tour helicopter aiding in the search for an airplane missing on a flight from Georgia has discovered wreckage on a North Carolina mountainside.